Public-Private Partnerships for 100% Clean Energy: Prospects for City and Business
Collaboration

In recent years, the United States has seen an unprecedented surge in subnational
climate action. A growing number of cities and businesses, in particular, have stepped
up to the plate to address the threat of climate change, including many that have
pledged to transition away from fossil fuel-based electricity and towards 100 percent
clean energy. Yet the barriers to hitting those ambitious targets are significant
and, in some cases, seemingly insurmountable. This research assesses the extent to
which partnerships between cities and businesses can help them overcome those barriers
and, in turn, fortify subnational climate action. The author presents an overview
of the various clean energy procurement options available to cities and businesses
(as well as the constraints that limit their availability), examines the benefits
of partnerships, and finally highlights three emerging approaches to collaboration.
This analysis finds that while collaboration has the potential to help cities and
businesses work towards their clean energy goals, executing them may be easier said
than done. That reality is driven by regulatory, financial, and logistical considerations
that may ultimately limit the viability of formal partnerships. Even so, this research
finds that there is widespread appetite for new and novel ideas as cities and businesses
implement their clean energy commitments. Thus, while the examples and recommendations
identified here may not necessarily be generalizable, they nevertheless demonstrate
the potential value of creative partnerships.